The day began in the garden as many days do. I am working on memorizing a couple of verses this week and the garden is a good place to recite and pray them aloud.
I took advantage of the break in the rain to check the status of the plants. I have been making an intentional effort to harvest things young and earlier. In years past I missed the bubble and ended up giving lots of stuff to the chickens or finding things a bit "old".... I harvested some lettuce, carrots, peppers, tomatoes, radishes, snap peas, zucchini and green onion with the idea of a stir fry for dinner.
The grasshoppers and SLUGS are horrendous. I googled and it says to put beer or salt on the bed...but they are in the GRASS and everywhere....
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| Look at the slugs! |
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| Another sunflower |
I met with my counselor today.... I left the office with two thoughts to carry into the upcoming weeks: forgiveness is not the same as reconciliation and I may be ready to offer "presence" but I'm not ready to do much more than that. That is a boundary to benefit all - and it won't be forever.
Shortly after I got home Arielle and the kids came over. She'd made the mistake of mentioning going to Bachan's after school and quiet time. They got done early. Bre organized a shark party again for us this year. We put it off for today...I didn't mind the team arriving early. They hung out and these two helped stretch the dough. I love pre-schoolers.
Bre is amazing with theme parties. She had tote bags and stencils for everyone to paint, cups, wrist bands, tattoos, treats - all in shark theme. Would you believe in the midst of the wind and the rain it was CLEAR during our party and we were able to be outside?
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| Danny, Bella, Benna, Bre, Annie, Gideon, Charles |
Sometime in the midst of the crazy activity Charles did something which prompted me to get in his face and say, "Charles, I sure love you." Maybe when he was going crazy with the water and paint...but in any event Charles doesn't often initiate or respond to emotional exchanges. I continue to tell him I love him when it's called for - as I do with all the kids.
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| Annie |
Sharks swimming in the center of the popsicles.
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| Jojo and Trudy |
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| Ellie |
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| Trudy |
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| Ellie |
As the party went along Cory showed up to help Michael plant a cherry tree. Michael had saved the seeds from some Rainier cherries he loved. They GREW; which shocked me...and the tree has grown until we were ready to get it in the ground before winter. Our two peach trees died...so they cleared them out and then planted another cherry tree. Cory moved dirt and helped with digging etc. Michael really appreciates his help. The fruit orchard is slowly becoming a cherry orchard as they grow and much else is dying.
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| Cory and Danny |
The party wrapped up and everyone began to pack into cars. As I chatted with Cory and Arielle at the car, Charles piped up from the back of their van, "Bachan, I love you too!" It made my entire week!
Friday night is pizza night. Stacia is still housesitting. Michael has been very careful with what he is eating. Allie would be home late for dinner. I considered pizza...but I had picked the stuff for a stir fry. In the end I just didn't want to go the long way into town one more time today! LOL The stir fry was good.
GRACE NOTES- Precious time with grands and daughters
- Wonderful son in laws
- A garden and a counselor
